Millers Score Three To Get Three Points

Rotherham United 3 Queens Park Rangers 1
Hugill (15, 70(pen)          Lowe (83 pen)
Odoffin (90)


Jordan Hugill’s first goals for Rotherham United helped them move up the table to eighteenth this afternoon at the New York Stadium.

It was Queens Park Rangers who had the first chance this afternoon when Chris Martin into the box and sent the ball towards Albert Adomah who twisted himself into a shooting position only to put the ball wide. From Viktor Johansson’s goal kick the Millers went straight up the other end with Chieo Ogbene but he couldn’t quite get the ball under control and it was put to safety by the visitors’ defence. On ten minutes some nice work between Hakeem Odoffin and Leo Hjelde saw the hosts win the first corner of the game which Conor Coventry sent in to the box only to see Rob Dickie clear. For the third time in the game Jordan Hugill, wearing the captains armband in place of the injured Ollie Rathbone, was wrestled to the ground and had to receive treatment before play could resume. On the quarter of an hour mark Tariqe Fosu was first to a loose ball on the halfway line sending it to Chieo Ogbene who flew up the wing getting the better of Rangers’ rear-guard and looked up before finding Hugill who swept the ball into the bottom corner of the net to put the Millers in front. At the other end a great cross in from Osman Kakay saw Martin inches away from getting on the end of it before the some equally good work from Ogbene saw him win a corner which Coventry sent in but was hacked away. Another corner this time from Shane Ferguson had Seny Dieng in the Hoops’ goal on his toes as he punched it away. Viktor Johansson was then in the spotlight when he did well to get to a Stefan Johansen shot to get his fingertips to it and put it over for a corner which was followed by some good work from Cameron Humphreys who did well to stop Lowe get a shot away. Just after the half-hour mark the Millers had a good chance to double their lead when good work from Ogbene saw him find Odoffin just inside the box whose shot was well saved by Dieng. Ferguson was the next red shirted player to see a shot blocked before Jimmy Dunne was one of two hooped shirted players to make a sandwich of Hugill but it was the Rotherham man who saw yellow, much to his – and his fans – disgust. Nice work from Hjelde saw him pass to Fosu whose shot from outside the box was blocked. In the final five minutes of the half the hosts got hold of the ball in midfield and a lovely clip into the box from Hugill found Ferguson who saw his well aimed shot bring off a good save from Dieng. Fosu went on a run and was cruelly brought down by Adomah who got a yellow for his trouble. A header from Hugill after some good work between Fosu and Ogbene was an easy save for Dieng before a super ball from Fosu caught the Hoops’ defence out but Dieng managed to get there before Odoffin could shoot.

An early second-half corner for the Millers caused problems to the Rangers defence when it was sent in by Shane Ferguson and with Seny Dieng caught in two minds Wes Harding got in between him and the ball and appeared to be knocked over by the Rangers’ ‘keeper before he collected the balls. Appeals from the fans, the bench and the players were ignored by Darren Bond – I’d like to see that one back. Sam Field was the next player to see yellow for a foul on Tariqe Fosu, which was probably the only way to stop him getting forward. The resulting free-kick was sent in by Conor Coventry who found the head of Leo Hjelde the Leeds United loanee shooting from outside the box only to see his shot nick the foot of a blue and white hooped player to go out for a corner. From that corner being saved by Dieng QPR went down the other end and won a corner of their own which was well punched away by Viktor Johansson amongst a crowd of players for another corner. That one was taken short eventually finding Tim Iroegbunam who sent it back for Field who put the ball just over the crossbar. A couple of changes for the visitors saw Albert Adomah and Tim Iroegbunam make way for Sinclair Armstrong and Taylor Richards. A good chance for Rangers to equalise came on sixty-five minutes when a low ball from Aaron Drewe found Jimmy Dunne who saw his shot go inches past the upright. Just more than twenty minutes to go and the Millers got into the box again with Hugill who was pulled back by Rob Dickie who was booked as Mr Bond pointed to the penalty spot. Hugill put the ball down, composed himself and slotted the ball home to double Rotherham’s lead. With their heads still thinking about the goal Rangers got the better of the Millers defence and Taylor Richards cut inside and sent a shot in which Johansson did well to get down too. A change for the hosts saw Jamie Lindsay come on for Shane Ferguson. Jamal Lowe had a chance for the visitors his shot from outside the box going wide before Conor Coventry sent a super ball down for Chieo Ogbene who saw his shot blocked. With ten minutes some good work from Ogbene saw him keep the ball going down the wing, get the better of his marker and send it in to Hugill whose shot from close range was saved. On eighty-two minutes Rangers got the ball down the wing and into the box with Sinclair Armstrong and when it looked like Armstrong had taken the ball over the line thanks to the attention of Wes Harding Mr Bond pointed to the penalty spot and booked Harding. I’d like to see that one again too. Jamal Lowe put the ball on the spot and put it into the top corner of the net to make it two-one. Richards and Jimmy Dunne both saw attempts come to nothing. Two more changes for Rotherham saw Conor Washington and Georgie Kelly replace Tariqe Fosu and Jordan Hugill. As the clock ticked onto ninety minutes some nice work from Washington saw him find Kelly who saw his shot come back to him before he sent the ball back to Hakeem Odoffin who sent a rocket of a shot into the back of the net to make it three-one to the Millers. A change in time added on for Rotherham saw Peter Kioso on for Chieo Ogbene. Rangers thought they’d made it three-two but the flag went up for offside – albeit a late flag.

A good win and much needed three points for Rotherham this afternoon which heralded another team performance. We defended when we needed scored three goals, had other chances – and won.

Well done lads!

Attendance – 10,563 (1,162 Rangers Fans)

Referee – Darren Bond